Paper gathering machine



Sept 18, 1951 c. w. DIDDE ET A1. 2,568,224

PAPER GATHERING MACHINE a@ me mfw Sept. 18, 1951 c. W. DIDDE ETAL PAPER GATHERING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1948 Sept 18, 1951 c. W. DIDDE ET A1. 2,568,224

PAPER GATHERING MACHINE Filed sept. 8, 194s s sheets-sheet 5 Patented Sept. 18, 1951 UNITEDSTATE PAPER GATHERING MACHINE Carl W. Didde and Donald A. Glaser,

Emporia; Kans.

Application September 8, 1948, Serial 120.48204 5 claims. (onzin-5s) f This invention relates to a machine for gathering sheets of paper from eachof a plurality of stacks of sheets and delivering the sheets to a receiver in a predetermined order and arrangement.

The machine consists essentially of supporting means for a plurality of stacks of paper sheets, lift means for engaging and lifting the uppermost sheet from each stack and a plurality of trays on a conveyor which are arranged to move under the sheets being held by' the lift means and to have the sheetsA deposited thereon.' Mechanism is provided for removing the sheets from the consecutive trays and depositing those sheets in a receiver. Y

In the illustratedform of the invention the actuation of the lift means and the movement of the trays as well as the spacing of the stacks are so correlated that each tray receives a sheet from each stack. All of the sheets in any one stack are similar but diifer from the sheets in other stacks. The' stacks are arranged in proper order to cause the sheets to be deposited onthe trays in predetermined order. All of the sheets on any one tray are discharged into the receiver simultaneously and in this way the sheets are arranged in theproper predetermined order in lthe receiver.

A primary object of the invention is to provide amachine for the purpose described which is lof simple construction, which has relatively feW moving parts and which can be operated for long .periods of time with a minimum of care and maintenance.

Another object of the invention is to provide' separating the uppermost sheet on each stack and lifting such sheets so that they may be deposited on the trays. v.

Other objects and advantages of the invention y.4.0 `vide improved air blast and suction means for`v will be referred to in the following detailed de` scription of an exemplary form of the invention. ,This detailed description has reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

i `Figure l is a siderelevation view of the machine;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken .in the direction of the, arrows along thel line 3-3 of Figure 2; Y A

-Figure 4 is atransverse sectional view taken 65 in the direction ofthe v'arrows lalong the line l-l ofFigure2;and\' Figure,5 isa fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section illustrating themechanism for controlling the vsuction* in the vacuurnrline leading to, the lift means. 1 I l The illustrated form of the machine is designed to gather and assembleV sheets from two stacks. It will be understood however that the principles of operation of the machine permit its use with a greater number of stacks and we contemplate that the machines can be constructed to accommodate any desired number of stacks., Y l

Four supporting legs I0, il, I2 and I3 support the frame of lthe machine ,which includes a pair of spaced parallel side frame `members I4 and I5. These side frame members have adjustable bearing supports I6, |17, IB and-,I9 attheirends.,l The adjustable bearing supports lliand vI8 have Van axle 20 journaled therein and sprockets 2| and 22 are vmounted on the.- ends of .this axle. p A similar axle 23 journaled in the-.bearing ,supports I1 and I 9. and" sprockets, 24 and 25 are mounted onthe ends of. the axle23, A conveyor chain 26 runs on the sprockets 2l `and 24 and a similar conveyor chainz21 runs on the sprockets 22 and 25.. Thetension Qn-.theconveyor chains 2B and 21 can be adjusted by means of the adjustable bearing supports. I6 to -I9, inclusive.

A plurality of identical .trays are securedin spaced relationship along the .length ,of the conveyor chains 26 and 21. sixsuch trays are shown in the drawings,` although-.it will be understood that a greater or lesser number of trays may be used and that the number of trays will be appreciably increased in machines which are designed to accommodate a greaternumber ofstacks of sheets. The trays are designated in the drawings by the ,reference numerals 28, 29, 30, 3l, 32 and 33. Each of -the traysvis loosely secured nearits rear edge to theconveyorfchains 26 and 21 by any suitable means which does not interfere with the running of thechains over the sprockets. Supporting means is provided for a plurality of stacks of sheetsftwo such stacks are illustrated in the drawings). This supportingmeans is illustrated as a table 3450i, adjustable` height. The adjustment of the Ytable 34- is accomplished by means of a rack 35 extending vertically downwardly from the table, a gear 3B .mount ed-r on a cross bar 36aa flexible shaft 31, meshinggears i 38 and 39 anda shaft 40.whi'chpcarriesfa ,crank "table 34.

`emular to themes Grandes. l

secured to the side frame members I4 and t5 and parallel bars 58 and 5| aremounted for vertical reciprocation on these pins: The4 vertical reciprocation of the parallel' barsl and 5I is caused by cams 52 which are mounted on, the*Y ends of the axles 20 and 23. The cams 52 are allel bars 50 and 5I are raised simultaneously and permitted to descend simultaneously so that thesparallelbarsalways remain in parallel relationship'. y' yHosts 53 and 54extend upwardly'from-t'he bar 5U -and similar. posts 55"and" 5B.' extend'` upwardly fromtlebar 5I5. Each of these upright' postsis provided' at its upper end witlra threaded' pin 51 having a nut ..58` thereon'. cross bar 59'liaving apertures inits ends extendsfionithe pin 51" on the .post 53 t'o the pin at the' upperend of the post Y55. 'IleI similar cross bar' 6U' extends between the pins 515 on the upper ends of the posts 5l-fand 562 The cross bars' 5"9and160support suction pickup`r members which are'.` arranged". toY descendand stacks Wand'. 43" and toelvatetthosesheets so ,tliat-thetrays' maypass. under the sheet-s.; A

tube 6T. extends downwardiy rronrthel cross bar 159`an'd`provided'adjacent its 'lower'end' with ,that the nuts 5d onthetnreaded pins 51 are positioned' some distance above the endsof the cross bar 59'` so' that the'parallel barsill and 5| and the'posts 58 and '55 may descend to a greater extenttnan thejcrossl bary59i feature `has beenV found advisableA tocompensate for any irregularities in` thestacks and" also `t'o-'elimin'ate the" necessityfor frequent adjustments of4 the 'I'l'ieupper ends of the tubes '61| and 63' are E joined'by acondut 65 which communicates with aksuct'ion manifold 68.' The suction manifold s6 alsocommunicates-wana conduit 61 which is jattached `to the upper 'ends of tubes attached' to the cross bar' 6U and'whichare irr-allrrespects suction'line'f ss'leads from the manifold' 65 to av'alve' 69 mounted on'thebearing'support I8. A suction line T-extends from thefvalve 59 to the intake 1`I` of a-vacuumpump 12 which is driven by means ofa motor13' through a belt 14. The valve 69 is' normally open to permit the vacuum pump'12 to draw air through the ,suction lines 68 and`10, the suction manifold 66, .thejconduits 65and61 andthe tubes'secured to ,15. The lplunger 15 is intermittently moved inwardly by means ofthe camming surface of v`a projection 16 on the sprocket 22. The valveist 4 of the type which Will automatically reopen after the projection 16 has passed beyond the plunger 15. The closing of the valve 69 in this manner permits the sheets to be dropped on the trays in the manner hereinafter described.

The axle 23 is driven by means of a motor 11 through a gear reduction unit 18, a pulley 19 anda belt. which runsover a. pulley 8 I secured to the endiof the axle 23.

A receiver 82 in the form of a rack for accommodating a stack of assembled sheets is supported by struts 83 and 84 which extend upwardly and-f outwardly from the supporting legs II and I3. Standards. 85 and 86 are secured to the struts- 83` and' 84, respectively, and a shaft 81 is journaled in the upper ends of these standards. A2. pulley' 88f'is fixedto one end of the shaft 81.

. Thisshaft is rotated by means of a crossed belt .pickup the uppermost sheet from. each of the a 89 which runs on the pulley 88 and a pulley 90 secured to the end of the axle 23. The shaft 81 has securedfthereto'- friction rollers 9'I"of? rubber or other suitablematerial'. Similar rollers 92 are secured? to theI frontwall ofthe receiver- 82"and are positioned"adjacentI the perpheriesof' therollers 9|. The receiver 82 is provided With-. a' plurality ofl adjustable'. stop' members' 93 to`4 enable-the receiver to: properly stackl sheets which are received' therein.

The forward edges of the trays- 28 to- 33'inclu.- sive arenotched' as indicated at194: and 95-and these' notches are positioned inalignment with thedischarging rollers S15-andi 92,r The trays, are provided with adjustable abutment. members 98 which can bev adjusted'for sheetsV ofA different sizes to make certain that the forward edge of each` sheet overlies the notches y9|| and 95f so that the'forward edges of the sheets. are; capable" of beingr receivedin the' biteof the discharging rollers.' 91? and 92; l The discharge 91- of theivacuum pump 1.2l is connected to a pressure-'line 98- which leadsto a pressure: manifoldv 99; The' pressure manifold 9.9i isv connectedl tota discharge: nozzle- I 00- Awhich discharges a j'et of air against the upper-portion ofthat stack of sheets. whichI is designated by the reference numeral42. The pressuremanifold is alsol connectedv to asimilar discharge nozzle IIlI which discharges a jet of air` against the upper portionof the'stack 43. The jets. of ,air discharged by the nozzlesI IIJIJv and Illl assist. in separatingzthe uppermost sheet from each of the stacks in a manner which; will be more clearly understood from the description of the operation of the machine.

The vacuum manifold 661s provided with an adjustable aperturer |82 adjacent the suction tubes descending from the cross bar 59 and with a similar adjustable aperture |03 adjacent'the suction tubes` descending from the cross bar 6U. Adjustment of the apertures |0I and |03 permits variations in the amount of air drawn into the suction manifold 66 andpermits the opera'- tor to control the extent of suction at each pair of suction pick-up tubes.

The; sprockets 2|22, 24 and 25 are ofsuch diameter that the conveyor chains 26 and l21 will 'move a distance equal to thespacing of the trays for each revolution of the sprockets. These sprockets and the cams 52 rotate at thesame lrate and the parallel bars 5 0 and/5I 'andthe elements carried thereby will rise and descend once foreach revolution of the sprockets. The cams 52 are positioned to raisethe parallel bars 58 and 5I when a tray is approaching a stack V'of sheets, to hold those parallel bars elevatedf'u'ntil absagen the` tray passes beyond the stack, and to permit theparallel bars to descend after the tray has passed beyond the stacks. v'Ifhestacks42 and 43 are spaced apart a distance 'equal tothe spacing of the trays on the conveyorchain. This relationship may be more clearly understood by reference to Figurev 3 `of the'dra'wings. The tray 28 is shown approaching the"`stack 42 and the tray 29 is approaching the sta ck,43. The parallel bars 50 and 5| are elevated and the uppermost sheet on each stack has been lifted by the suction pick-up tubes; Th'parallel bars 50 and 5| will remain elevated andfthe trays 28 and 29 will continue to move untilthey' underlie the sheets Which have been pickedgup from the stacks 42 and 43. The camining surface of the projection 16 on the sprocket 22 Will, at this time, depress the plunger 15 of the valve09 which will discontinue the suction inthe pick-up tubes and the sheets will bereleased ontothe trays 28 and 29. The cams 52 will permit the parallel bars 50 and 5| to descend fasjsoon as the trailing edges of the trays have passed from beneath the pick-up tubes. This permits theY pick-up tubes to descend to' pick up additionalsheets from the stacks and the cycle of operation is then repeated.

lIt rwill be seen by reference to Figure 3 that sli'reet v|04 is lying on the tray 29. This sheet |04 'wasobtainedfromthe stack 42. The tray 29 is illustrated as being in position to pick up the sheet |05 from the stack 43. The tray 28 isabo'ut to pick up the sheet |06 from the stack 42. This tray 28 will eventually also pick up the sheet immediately underlying sheet |05 on stack 43. It willbe seen that there are two sheets on the tray 30. The lower sheet on this tray has been obtained from the stack 42 while the upper sheet has been obtained from the stack 43. vIt will thus be apparent that each tray will pick up one sheet from each stack and it will also be apparent that the sheets are always arranged in the same order on the trays. As is best shown in Figure 3, the' vcormeetions of the trays to the chains are such that the trailing edges of the trays are positioned slightly above their forward edges as the trays travel along the upper reach of the conveyor. Thisslight'tilting of the trays causes sheets positioned thereonV to be pressed against the upper surfaces of the trays by the relative movement .between the sheets and the surrounding air. In other words the air -currents tend to cause the paper sheets to remain on the trays rather than to be lifted and blown off the trays as would be the case if the trays were horizontal or tilted in the opposite direction.

. By referring again to Figure 3 it will be seen that the tray 30 is approaching the discharge rollers 9| and 92. As this tray moves to the left the portions of the sheets overlying the notches 94 and 95 will enter the bite Vof the rollers 9| and 92 and the rotation of these rollers will draw the sheets from the tray and discharge those sheets into the receiver 82.

The crossbars 59 and 60 are so positioned that the pick-up tubes depending therefrom engage the edges of the uppermost sheets on the stacks 42 and 43. The air jets from the discharge nozzles |00 and |0| play on the same edge of the uppermost sheet on each stack. These jets thus assist the pick-up tubes in separating the upper-.-

most sheets from the stacks. We have detected that these air jets cause a slight buckle in the uppermost sheet on each stack and this is apparently responsible for the greater ease with which the pick-up tubes functiorflto accomplish their purpose. It will be'seen by reference to Figure 3that the pick-up tubes elevate only-the edges of thesheets which they engage and that the opposite 'edge ofeach sheet continues to rest on its respective stack.v Such liftingof the sheets is sufficient for thereason that the trays will lift the remaining `portionsfof these sheets as the trays pass beneath th'esheetsliThis -is an advantageous feature of-our machine in that it elimihates the necessity 'for lifting the entire weight of the sheets by suction.`

All "of the pick-up tubes are connected to'fa common suction manifold.V If for-any reason a pair of pick-uptilbes fails to pick` up a sheet, 'there'. will be insufficient vacuum in the manifold to permit other pairsof pick-up tubes to retain their sheets.' This sj an advantageous featureof themachineas it decreases the possibility of ob' taining an erroneous arrangement of 'sheetsin the'receiver.v `v i The machine which has lbeen illustrated and described is a small machine adapted-,to enco'm"i modate only two stacks of sheets. This machine does, ho'wevene'mbody the mechanical features and principles of operation `of, our invention` and it serves to illustrate those* features and'p'rirlvciples in a manner which is perhaps more Aclearly understandable thanwould be the casefif we'vvere `to illustrate and describe' a machine `designed to accommodate a greater nnumber of stacks. Various alterations vand modifications may be resorted to'without departing fromthe scope ,of the invention as defined vby the following' claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1. A 'paper gathering machine' comprising Vmeans for supporting a plurality ofstacks of flat Ysheets onto the trays when such trays have moved between the lifted sheets and the topsA of the stacks, each of said trays beingprovided `withan abutment member on'its upper surface for engaging the trailing edges of the sheets superposed on the tray and for pushing such sheets forwardly with the tray, said abutment member being positioned relative to the leading edge of the tray to cause at least portions of the leading edges of the superposed sheets to project from the tray, and cooperating discharge members positioned adjacent the end of the upper reach of said conveyor for gripping the projecting portions of the superposed sheets and pulling such sheets from the trays.

2. In a paper gathering machine, means for supporting a plurality of stacks of flat sheets of paper, a tray movable over the stacks, said tray having a smooth upper lsurface which is inclined downwardly from its trailing edge to its leading edge, means for lifting a single sheet from the top of each stack as the tray moves over the stacks and for depositing the sheets in sequential superposed relation on said upper surface of the tray, said tray being provided with an abutment member on the upper surface thereof for engaging the trailing edges of the sheets and pushing 7:21 mfflperposedfrsheets inwardly with. .the rtray, said4 ,abutment member being positioned relative Atoathe;leadingedge;or thetrayrto eausefatlleast portions-.oft theoleading-edges of. .the superposed sheets: to. project fromv the.='tray,,andfcooperating movable `discharge members :for gripping. the l`projecting. p0rtions. of fthensuperposed sheets and p11-lling such `sheets-from the -tray.

3ans machine :for gathering. sheets from each o f- -a. plurality of stacks .of sheets and 'delivering thessheetsto afzreoeiver in predetermined order and arrangement, comprising :means forv supporting.. aY plurality of` stacks arranged-'iny equally stainedA v:relationship longitudinally ofA the maa oonveyer movable longitudinally ofwthe machinel and provided-.with traysfequallyspaced along, its Ylength-.bydistances equal: to the spacing of .tsaidfstaoks in such,- mannerfthat when one dffthe trayszis .above one l-,offthe stacks'otherftrays .areaabove otherstaeks, lift means operative when the trays are between st-acks for lifting the ,uppervtlmstrsheet fromleach stackand for releasingsuch sheetsfwhemthe -traysj are v*above the stacks, `each of saidf'trays being-provided with anabutment member on: its upper surface -for engaging the trailing'edges of the, superposed `sheets, on the tray andsfor pushingfsuchsheets yforwardly with -the tray, said abutment member being ,positioned relative to the-leadingfedgeof .the tray to cause at '.leastportions-ofthe leading edgesof the superi posedsheets to -projectfromfthe tray, and means ior-,tgrasping theiproieotngportions of thesuperposed-sheets andipulling lsuch sheets from the trays and ldischarging the superposed sheetsinto afneceiver.

v Ali. .Inwa-,paper-:ezathering machine, the combination. of: r`sumiorts., for: a plurality. ofstacks of Paper .sheets;. a.. .devioedor gripping the leading nlargm of av grouproftsuperposed sheets presented lthereto and .delivering .such group `to A a receiver.; l

l,andumecha-1115111 for- .forming ,groups ofsuperposed .sneetsgand presenting such groups successively .tolsaid gripping landdelii/fering device, lsaid meeh- ,anismincluding a. movable ksheettcollecting .and ,glOup .iOlming .-Inemberhaving ani-upper surface awhich is downwardlyzinelined in the directionof Jmovement, ofthe member and which yis arranged .tounderlie andsupport the major portion of the 'area-,0I .a plurality ofsuperposed paper -sheets successively :deposited 1thereon-withl a leading n marginalmontion .of the group thus formedexposed.- for ,engagement -byrsaidgripping and de- 8 l livering device, means for ,movingl said member successively over said stack supports andmtb position to present the exposed. leading margin' of the group of sheets supported thereon to said' trailing edges of paper sheetson said tratsaid' abutment .member being so positioned relative 'to the leading edge of the tray as tocause thejleading edges of paper sheets on said tray to beposi tioned on said atsurface adjacent the leading edge ofsaid traypa pair of cooperating discharge rolls rotatable on axes generally parallel .to the leading edge of said tray, said first direotionbefing such as to direct the leading edge ofsaid'tray into the ,biteof the rolls, anda notch in the'lead'- ing edge of said tray in position to underlie por: tions of. the paper sheets on the tray, said notch ,being aligned with said discharge rolls to l cause the, portions of the paper sheets which `avertie said notch to berldischarged byV saidl rolls while said tray moves in said second direction.

CARL W. yDIDDE'.. DONALD A. GLASER;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in -the lfile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

